Loropetalum plant named ‘PIILC-IV’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinctive cultivar of  Loropetalum  named ‘PIILC-IV’ that is characterized by its compact, mounded, spreading growth habit, its foliage that is dark purple in color that changes to green in color summer through winter, its flowers that are red-purple in color, and its good cold hardiness with hardiness at least in U.S.D.A. Zones 7 to 9.

Botanical classification: Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum.

Variety denomination: ‘PIILC-IV’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘PIILC-IV’. ‘PIILC-IV’ is an evergreen shrub grown for use as an ornamental landscape plant.

‘PIILC-IV’ originated as a seedling from seed derived from open pollination of Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum ‘GriffCRL’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,615). The male parentage is therefore unknown. The Inventor selected ‘PIILC-IV’ as a single unique plant in the summer of 2012 from amongst the resulting seedlings.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by one of the Inventors using semi-hardwood cuttings in Watkinsville, Ga. in 2013. Asexual propagation by semi-hardwood cuttings has determined that the characteristics of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘PIILC-IV’ as a unique cultivar of Loropetalum.

-   -   1. ‘PIILC-IV’ exhibits a compact, mounded, spreading growth         habit.     -   2. ‘PIILC-IV’ exhibits foliage that is dark purple in color that         changes to green in color summer through winter.     -   3. ‘PIILC-IV’ exhibits flowers that are red-purple in color.     -   4. ‘PIILC-IV’ exhibits good cold hardiness and is cold hardy at         least in U.S.D.A. Zones 7 to 9.

The female parent of ‘GriffCRL’, ‘PIILC-IV’, differs from ‘PIILC-IV’ in having a rounded plant habit, a multi-stem trunk, a taller mature height of over 3.6 m, flowers that are vibrant fuchsia in color, immature and mature foliage that is grey-purple in color. ‘PIILC-IV’ can also be compared to Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum cultivars ‘PIILC-IV’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,470) and ‘PIILC-III’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,471). ‘PIILC-II’ differs from ‘PIILC-IV’ in having foliage that is ruby red in color maturing to purplish green, and flowers that are red-pink in color. ‘PIILC-III’ differs from ‘PIILC-IV’ in having foliage that is dark purple in color persistently year around, and flowers that are dark pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Lorepetalum. The photographs were taken of a four year-old plant of ‘PIIIP-I’ as grown in the ground in Watkinsville, Ga.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side-view of the plant habit of in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of ‘PIIIP-I’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the spring and early summer foliage of ‘PIIIP-I’.

The photograph in FIG. 4 provides a view of the foliage color as it turns color in summer of ‘PIIIP-I’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the Detailed Botanical Description accurately describe the colors of the new Lorepetalum.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of four year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in the ground in sun in Watkinsville, Ga. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Flowers are produced in April in             Watkinsville, Ga. and then sporadically until frost.         -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Mounded, compact, spreading.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches an average of 92 cm in height and             148 cm in spread for a 4 year-old plant in the landscape.         -   Diseases resistance.—No susceptibility or resistance to             diseases or pests has been observed.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 7 to 9, good cold             hardiness for a purple-leaved cultivar.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pruning enhances lateral             branch development.         -   Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous and well-branched,             59B in color.         -   Propagation.—Semi-hardwood cuttings.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Time required for root development.—An average of six weeks             for root initiation (at 32° C.) with a young plant produced             in an average of 3 months (at 32° C.). -   Branch description:     -   -   Branch shape.—Rounded.         -   Branch size.—First year; 16 cm in length and 2 mm in             diameter, second year and older; 30 cm in length and 5 mm in             diameter, trunk; 7 cm in diameter at soil line.         -   Branch surface.—First year; heavily stellate, second year             stems; glabrous, trunk; rugose bark.         -   Branch color.—First year; 59A, second year stems; 201B,             trunk; 201B.         -   Branch strength.—First year; flexible, older; more easily             broken, not as flexible.         -   Internode length.—First year stems; 1.5 cm in length, 2 cm             in length.         -   Vegetative bud description.—Alternate in arrangement,             surface covered with stellate pubescence, ovoid in shape, 1             mm in length and width, 61A in color.         -   Branching.—Freely branched with pruning enhancing lateral             branch development. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf shape.—Ovate-rounded.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 2 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf base.—Oblique.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces are stellate and rough.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire with stellate hairs.         -   Leaf color.—New growth upper surface; N77A, mature growth             upper surface; N137A, new growth lower surface; N77C, mature             growth lower surface; 146B.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate; color developing upper and lower             surfaces; 60A, fully expanded; upper surface 187A, lower             surface; 60A.         -   Petioles.—An average of 3.5 mm in length, 1 mm in diameter,             187A in color, stellate pubescent surface. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel produced from leaf axils and             terminally.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Showy for an average of 2             weeks, individual flowers last 2 to 3 days and are self             cleaning.         -   Number of flowers.—4 to 8 flowers per inflorescence.         -   Flower form.—4 to 5 strap-like petals forming a loose             funnel.         -   Flower buds.—Obicular in shape, average of 4 mm in length             and 3 mm in diameter, N186D in color. pubescent surface.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower aspect.—Outward.         -   Petals.—4, average of 1.6 cm in length and 1 mm in width,             linear in shape, acuminate apex, entire margin, truncate             base, upper and lower surface smooth, upper surface color;             60B, lower surface color; 63B.         -   Sepals.—4, average of 3.2 mm in length and 2 mm in width,             ovate in shape, entire margins, apex is acute to obtuse and             reflexed, base is fused into calyx cup, stellate pubescent             outer surfaces, glabrous color upper surface 60B, color             lower surface is 61B.         -   Calyx.—Average of 3 mm in length, 2 mm in diameter, outer             surface N186D in color, inner surface 63A in color, outer             surface covered with stellate pubescence, inner surface             glabrous.         -   Peduncles.—Average of 6 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter,             63A in color, covered with stellate pubescence.         -   Pedicel.—None, sessile to peduncle. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistil.—1 to 2, inferior, smooth surface, 2 mm in length,             71B in color, style; 1 mm in length, 71B in color, stigma;             rounded, 71B in color, ovary; 1 mm in diameter and length,             N81A in color.         -   Stamens.—4 to 5, 1.5 mm in length, 0.3 mm in width, N77 in             color, pollen sparse in quantity and 158B in color.         -   Fruit.—2-valved capsule, woody surface, ovoid in shape, an             average of 6 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter, 200C in             color, 2 seeds per capsule; 5 mm in length, 2 mm in width,             200A in color. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum named ‘PIILC-IV’ as herein illustrated and described. 